Magnetic North and Shane Foley© Photo Healy Racing
Magnetic North (6/1) justified trainer Ian Donoghue's decision to drop the veteran down in distance today, as he bagged a tenth career success in the Gowran Park Golf Club Claimer and was subsequently bought-back.
Magnetic North's previous win over today's mile distance was gained in 2018 and while he had been competing largely over middle-distances, today held runner-up Play It Again Zaam and third-placed Lohengrin in a tight finish.
The winning nine-year-old was later claimed back by Donoghue while runner-up Play It Again Zaam was claimed by J. Weldon and trainer Prunella Dobbs for €11,000. Sixth-placed Miqdaad was claimed for €5,000 by trainer John McConnell.
Trainer Donoghue, a brother to prominent jockey Keith Donoghue, wasn't present and Foley admitted “I told Ian not to run him and to keep him for a race in Tramore!
“He is a grand horse, had a nice run in Limerick the other day and this claiming race came up. Yesterday's ground would have been perfect for him but has tightened up since.”
He added “when Sheila (Lavery, trainer) had him, he was running in Premier Handicaps and Dick Donohoe got a good twist from him too. He's a fun horse in those races and if he's not claimed, he will take a bit of whacking in that Tramore race in a few weeks time.”
